The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-22
JOS LUCK.
1t Came to Him in the Shape of Great
Railroad Wash-Out.

Railroad Wash-Out.
odd We hear bout the cyclone?
Scarcely shanty left standing down
in Morville. People killed, an them
who amt killed fairly cleaned out. The
wind S JUS broke up every thing, an
left them poor as Jobs turkey" The
speaker was long-haired, cadaverous
looking individual, who spit tobacco
juice bout freely as he delivered him
self Of the foregoing statement. A mot
ley group had gathered around the
huge stove, for although u raw wind
was blowing outside, the store door
was left Hospitality open to entice GUS
toners.
Eyes, hard lines" replied the court
eous proprietor; land the cyclone came
within five miles of us, twill be our
turn next. Contributions will be taken
in all the churches tomorrow for the
sufferers. "
"Wall, people ought to perfect their
selves" continued the first speaker.
"Now I've dug big hole in the groun',
sort of vault like, ye know, an [ tell
my folks if worst comes to the worst,
we can jus pile in there"
$50 you have prepared a city of
refuge; good idea, was the reply;
''yct we may escape, although this part
of the South seems to be the section
just now chosen for such operations"
Better all 90 home an dig holes in
the groun'," was the countryman's adj
vice as he stalked out of the store.
Among the interested listeners was
10, little colored boy. He had battled
with storms, and knew by actual ex-
perience that a high wind was not a
force to be despised. LET the siklone
come" he chuckled, 'Ps prepared.
faint cherry un dat owns a gran I'M
dergroun' state. Take a mighty high
wind to upset my pallis. l can lay
dere as snug as a top, with never fear
dat my roof will sail off ODER my head.
Lor! but don't the wind blow. l
b'lieve a siklones comm sure nuffr'
The wind continued to blow, gaining
in force as the day waned, and by night
the rain fell in torrents. The streets
We're nearly deserted, with here and
there traveller who struggled YEARLY
against the storm. Notwithstanding
JOS high opinion of the good points Of
his establishment, hungry and cold he
still wandered restlessly about, loath
to take possession of his snug quarters.
"lt's bad luck I've had to-day" he
said; Eyes, COMPOUNDED bad luck! l
thought for sure Jim would pay me
dat nickel, he's po trifin' chap. An
Mr.. Curtis, pears like he thinks Is
rich, reckon he knows l live in pallis"
and 10 laughed bitterly. mo mat
ter" he continued more cheerfully,
"tain the first time Eve turned in
supperless." And so, footsore, and with
a very faint feeling in the region of the
stomach, the forlorn little figure
trudged bravely on in the darkness to-
ward his cave-like berth on the side of a
| hill not far from the railroad. Here 10
| had taken possession of small natural
cavern. and set up housekeeping. His
household goods consisted of Il few
pieces of broken crockery, and frag-
rnent of quilt. Mighty good of
Dinah to give me this ere" soliloquized
10, as he wrapped the old quilt closely
about hih.; ''reckon I'll pay her a call
in the mornin', bite of her cold vittles
would 90 right good. wonder if its
warm up dere where mother went No
night, no hunger, no cold, shouldn't
min trying it my own self" But poor
JOS troubles were soon forgotten in a
dreamless sleep.
He awoke toward morning in speech
less terror. 1t seemed as if the earth
underneath him was shaken, there was
a sound as if n heavy body had fallen,
then all was silence. "Was it the
siklone?" he thought. Gradually he
gathered courage and his scattered
wits. "rll 90 out and 'vestigate, " he
said, although shaking with fear.
"Jerushy!" he cried. The frequent
and violent rains had taken effect
Looking down toward the railroad
track, he saw, in the dim light, that {
it had given away. "JerushyH' he re-
peated, ~ wash out, an it's mos time
for the early train" As he slept in hi,
clothes, he could dispense with the
little ceremony of dressing, and witt
no thought of the pelting storm, he
rushed breathless and head!ong to the
station. The official there could scarce
" credit JOS words, but was forced to
believe the evidences of his own senses
and the train was signaled and stopped
ere it reached the fatal break. The
washout created a profound sensation
in the little town, and the narrow es
cape of the train was nine days
wonder.
When Monday morning came, tho
usual number of loafcrs were gathered
about the stove in the corner grocery
and our friend, the lank countryman
was engaged in his favorite occupation